Rays vs Nats, minus Crawford; Burrell in No. 2 spot

Update 12:42 Manager Joe Maddon said they're calling the injury RHP Jason Isringhausen suffered on his surgically-repaired elbow Saturday a strain, but they're going to wait until he undergoes an MRI on Monday to know for sure.

Isringhausen pulled himself out of Saturday's game after sailing a pitch wide of C Michel Hernandez, and was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

In his place, RHP Winston Abreu is expected to get here around gametime. Maddon said the reports on him from Durham have been really good, that he's got a great slider, and will be used in the bullpen based on matchups.

Abreu has spent his last stint in the majors with the Nationals, but spent more than a decade in the minors. Maddon pointed to how it takes longer for relievers to find their ways, and noted how LHP Randy Choate has come through after working his way back to the majors.

*In other news, Maddon said SS Jason Bartlett has done well in his rehab games in Port Charlotte and is expected to rejoin the team for their road trip, starting Tuesday in Colorado.

*Carl Crawford is just getting the day off, with Maddon liking to give players back-to-back days (combining with the Monday off-day). Pat Burrell is in the second spot in the order, a "Pat Burrell sandwich" as Maddon calls it, with the hopes he'll get some good pitches to hit in front of Longoria.

Maddon said Burrell is a high on-base-percentage guy, and he isn't worried about him clogging up the bases since Longoria and Pena aren't huge stolen-base threats, either.

***

The Rays will go for a three-game sweep of the Nationals - and try to move to three games over .500 for the first time all season - today in a Sunday matinee.

A little different lineup, with LF Carl Crawford out (likely getting a day off, giving him back-to-back off days heading into Tuesday's road trip). And DH Pat Burrell is hitting in the No. 2 hole in the lineup.

Also, LHP Scott Kazmir said he's scheduled to make his rehab start Wednesday for Class-A Charlotte, which has had its fair share of Rays rehabbing there this week (with Burrell and now Jason Bartlett).

About the blog

The Tampa Bay Rays will head into the 2015 season with Evan Longoria, Chris Archer, Alex Cobb and plenty of new faces, including manager Kevin Cash. Can they upend the Orioles in the highly competitive AL East? Come here to follow Rays news at Tropicana Field and beyond.